Vehicle accessory port and plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10870453-B2
Application number	US-201816190140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2018
Priority date	Nov 13, 2018
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle may include an integrated connector system. The vehicle includes a body having an outer surface and a plurality of attachment ports arranged on the outer surface. The attachments ports include a recess that extends below the surrounding outer surface. Each attachment port is configured to receive and engage with an attachment plug of an accessory. In some embodiments, there are different types of attachment ports, configured to engage with respective types of attachment plugs. Various accessories may be engaged with the attachment ports, allowing a range of items and equipment to be secured to the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle system, comprising:
a vehicle body comprising a front, a back, two sides, and an outer surface;
a first attachment port arranged on the outer surface proximate to one side of the vehicle body, wherein the first attachment port comprises a first recess and a pin extending between two opposing sides of the first recess;
a second attachment port arranged on the outer surface proximate to the one side of the vehicle body, wherein the second attachment port comprises a second recess;
a first accessory comprising a first attachment plug configured to be inserted into the first recess of the first attachment port, wherein a latching mechanism of the first accessory is configured to engage the pin; and
a second accessory comprising a second attachment plug configured to be inserted into the second recess of the second attachment port.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the first attachment port comprises a first port shape;
the second attachment port comprises a second port shape; and
the first port shape and the second port shape are different.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the body comprises one or more structural elements;
the first attachment port is mechanically coupled to one of the one or more structural elements; and
the second attachment port is mechanically coupled to one of the one or more structural elements.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first recess comprises:
a perimeter arranged substantially in the plane of the surrounding outer surface and comprising a rounded quadrilateral; and
a full depth from the surrounding outer surface configured to accept the first attachment plug; wherein the pin is arranged at a depth less than the full depth within the first recess.

5. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first accessory comprises one and only one attachment plug; and
the second accessory comprises one and only one attachment plug.

6. The vehicle system of claim 5 , wherein:
the first accessory comprises a first support structure having a first cradle configured to receive a portion of an object; and
the second accessory comprises a second support structure having a second cradle configured to receive a portion of the object.

7. The vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein:
the first cradle comprises a first j-style cradle; and
the second cradle comprises a second j-style cradle.

8. The vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein:
the object comprises a kayak;
the first cradle is configured to receive a first portion of the kayak;
the second cradle is configured to receive a second portion of the kayak; and
the first cradle and second cradle operate together to support the kayak.

9. The vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein:
when the object is resting on the first cradle and the second cradle, forces are exerted on the first cradle and the second cradle by the object; and
the first attachment port and the second attachment provide opposing forces to the first accessory and the second accessory to oppose the forces exerted by the object.

10. The vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein:
the first attachment port is arranged on a roof surface on the one side of the vehicle body; and
the second attachment port is arranged on the roof surface on the one side of the vehicle body.

11. The vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein:
the vehicle body comprises a truck bed having side rails;
the first attachment port is arranged on a top surface of one of the side rails; and
the second attachment port is arranged on a top surface of the one side rail.

12. The vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein:
the vehicle body comprises a truck bed surface;
the first attachment port is arranged on a side of the truck bed surface; and
the second attachment port is arranged on the side of the truck bed surface.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment port and the second attachment port are structured to support different loads.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein:
the first attachment plug comprises a first plug shape;
the second attachment plug comprises a second plug shape; and
the first plug shape and the second plug shape are different.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein:
the first attachment plug is capable of being inserted into both the first recess of the first attachment port and the second recess of the second attachment port; and
the second attachment plug is not capable of being inserted into the first recess of the first attachment port.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:
the first attachment port is structured for light loads; and
the second attachment port is structured for heavy loads.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:
the second attachment plug comprises a protrusion;
the second recess of the second attachment port comprises an indentation to accommodate the protrusion of the second attachment plug; and
the first recess of the first attachment port is not shaped to accommodate the protrusion of the second attachment plug.

18. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the first accessory comprises a first cantilever structure that is capable of extending away from the vehicle body; and
the second accessory comprises a second cantilever structure that is capable of extending away from the vehicle body; wherein:
the first cantilever structure and the second cantilever structure are configured to operate together to support a load suspended therefrom.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the load comprises a hammock comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the first cantilever structure, and wherein the second end is coupled to the second cantilever structure.

20. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the first cantilever structure and the second cantilever structure are capable extending out from a side of the vehicle corresponding to the one side.

21. An accessory for mounting to a vehicle, comprising:
an attachment plug having a bottom configured to be inserted into a port of the vehicle, wherein the attachment plug comprises:
an exterior shape comprising two opposite sides, wherein a cross section of the exterior shape comprises a longitudinal length greater than a transverse length;
a recess in the bottom extending between the two opposite sides and arranged to receive a pin of the port, wherein the pin extends between two opposing sides of the port and wherein the recess comprises two opposing interior sides; and
a latching mechanism arranged in one of the two interior sides of the recess and configured to engage the pin of the port.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Elder Christian
• Griffith Eric

Classifications

• B60R9/12

  for skis · CPC title

• B62D33/0273

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R9/045

  Carriers being adjustable or transformable, e.g. expansible, collapsible {(transformable into tents B60P3/36; into beds B60P3/38)} · CPC title

• B62D33/0207 Primary

  Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms · CPC title

• B60R9/06

  at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} · CPC title